Footage of Newcastle United defender Ciaran Clark being given his marching order during a friendly outing for the club on Friday evening has surfaced online.

Eddie Howe’s troops marked their return to action a short time ago, travelling to Saudi Arabia for a friendly meeting with high-flying Al-Ittihad.

And, when all was said and done, the newly-minted Magpies emerged triumphant, making it two wins on the spin after getting the better of Leeds United in the Premier League last weekend.

Star man Allan Saint-Maximin was unsurprisingly amongst the goals, with fellow wide-man Ryan Fraser having bagged the visitors’ other en route to an eventual 2-1 victory.

As alluded to above, however, Newcastle’s showing at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium did not come without its hiccups.

One member of Eddie Howe’s squad – in the form of defender Ciaran Clark – endured an evening to forget.

This comes after the Republic of Ireland international was sent for an early bath in Jeddah, for lashing out on the back of a coming together with Abderazak Hamdallah:

Guimaraes on the way

On a night which saw one member of his backline fail to impress, it will therefore no doubt come as music to the ears of Newcastle boss Eddie Howe to hear of the club closing on much-needed defensive reinforcements.

As per a report from The Telegraph, those in a position of power at St. James’ Park are confident of pushing a deal for Brighton stopper Dan Burn over the line, after seeing an opening offer knocked back by the Seagulls.

Elsewhere, the Magpies are also inching towards a further pair of signings further up the pitch, in the form of Lyon midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and Arsenal hitman Eddie Nketiah.

 

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